EP0894544A2 - Inspection machine for testing bottles or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

An inspection machine for checking bottles (2) or the like has a star wheel (1) for guiding the bottles past an inspection device (40), the star wheel on its periphery being equipped with holding members (4, 5) for detecting the bottles. The holding members are designed as clamps (4, 5) which engage the body area of the bottles (2).

Description

The invention relates to an inspection machine for testing of bottles or the like. With a star wheel for passing the bottles on at least one inspection device, the star wheel on its periphery with holding members for Capture the bottles is equipped.

A corresponding inspection machine is from DE 26 49 360 A1 known. The cleanliness and freedom from damage transparent beverage bottles to be checked are given to you Star wheel equipped with controllable gripping tongs and later on at least one Inspection device passed. Faulty bottles are gripped by a pair of pliers just below it Mouth recorded and fed to a collection point. Since the Attack the grippers above the center of gravity of the bottle, are on the radially outer side of the star wheel bottle-shaped guide arches required. But not only these guide parts must be with one Bottle types are exchanged, but also the Starwheels themselves, because they correspond in size to the respective one Recesses adapted to the bottle shape to accommodate the Have bottles. Disadvantageously, therefore, for everyone Bottle size or shape, complete sets of parts are available become. In addition, the operating personnel to change the Parts used for a long time.

Accordingly, the invention is based on the object Inspection machine to improve that the Effort to convert the machine to different ones Bottle types is reduced.

This task is solved in that the holding members of the Star wheels as attacking the body area of the bottles Brackets or gripping tongs are formed. The bottles are approximated by the brackets at their center of gravity partially clamped on two opposite sides held. Even at higher circulation speeds no risk of tipping, so that surrounding on the star wheel Guide parts can be omitted, which is convenient also the formation of scuff marks on the side wall of the bottle is avoided.

In addition, the clincher starwheels according to one Development of the invention can be carried out so that it without changing for different bottle diameters usable within a certain diameter range are. A version in which is particularly advantageous the brackets automatically to different diameters adjust by, for example, elastic brackets or over Spring elements can be acted upon clamps.

For machines with several inspection carousels or - wheels, e.g. one for an optical sidewall and / or Leakage control and another for Foreign matter detection (for plastic bottles) Mouth sealing surfaces, threads, bases or Inside wall control, it is beneficial if one Clamping starwheel designed according to the invention with on it Peripheral stationary inspection facilities in Bottle transport direction seen as the first carousel is placed inside the inspection machine because then the bottles directly this star wheel, i.e. without an additional upstream conventional star wheel can be fed directly. Such, in the first place positioned star wheel then fulfills the Function of an inlet star wheel and one Inspection carousels in which the bottles are bottom free are held clamped to the fuselage, so that for example foreign matter detection, soil, alkali, muzzle, Thread or inside wall control is feasible. This solution enables a particularly compact and space-saving design.

In addition, when using selectively controllable Clamping by a sensor upstream of the star wheel Already recognized foreign bottles in the inlet be divorced by using only single-variety bottles from the Brackets are captured while all other bottles are on Run past the bracket star or into a chute or Collection room.

It is also advantageous if an inspection machine on their outlet carousel or star wheel as well with clamps that grip the bottles on the fuselage area or Gripping tongs is equipped so that in the whole Machine can be dispensed with guide arches. Selective - controlled depending on the inspection result actuatable clamps on the outlet star wheel are special cheap, because then the bottles are targeted to different Discharge conveyor can be delivered.

Fig. 1

die schematische Draufsicht auf eine Inspektionsmaschine,

Fig. 2

die teilweise Draufsicht auf einen Transportstern,

Fig. 3

den Schnitt A-B nach Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

den Schnitt C-D nach Fig. 1,

Fig. 5

den Schnitt A-B bei einer anderen Ausführungsform eines Transportsterns,

Fig. 6

die Ansicht Z nach Fig. 5.

A preferred exemplary embodiment is described below with reference to the FIG. It shows:

Fig. 1

the schematic plan view of an inspection machine,

Fig. 2

the partial top view of a transport star,

Fig. 3

the section AB of FIG. 2,

Fig. 4

the section CD of FIG. 1,

Fig. 5

the section AB in another embodiment of a transport star,

Fig. 6

the view Z according to FIG. 5.

The inspection machine for empty bottles shown in Fig. 1 has an infeed conveyor 14 with a one-part screw 35, a total of three carousels 1, 50, 60, the in Bottle flow direction first and last carousel 1 or 60 as transport stars with distributed around their circumference arranged brackets 4, 5 (Fig. 2) for holding bottles 2nd are executed on their trunk area. At the extent of the as Exit star wheel serving transport star 60 are three Conveyor 61, 62, 63 arranged offset. Both the Brackets on the inlet and outlet side Transport star 1 or 60 can be controlled by means of Actuators at certain points in their Orbit regardless of the adjacent parentheses from a Access - in a release position and vice versa convertible, as will be explained in more detail below.

Located on the orbit of the first transport star 1 a first stationary, controllable Actuator 29 (Fig. 3) for reversing the brackets in the area where the auger 35 the transport star 1 affects. A second, uncontrolled actuator is at the transfer point between the transport star 1 and arranged the carousel 50. Along the Bottle conveyor in the area between these two mentioned actuators are on the Orbit of the transport star 1 offset one behind the other several stationary inspection devices 40, which are preferred below and / or above the parenthesis level of the Transport star 1 are placed close to the pitch circle.

These individual inspection devices can in themselves known manner so that the im Transport star 1 from the brackets 4, 5 bottom and muzzle-free bottles 2 on any existing ones Foreign matter, dirt, damage or Residual liquid, e.g. Wash liquor, at the bottom, inside wall, Muzzle or muzzle side wall area (including thread) can be checked. 4 is such a, arranged on the transport star 1 Inspection device 40 with a stationary Lighting device 41 below the orbital plane of the Bottle bottoms and one stationary above the circulation level of the bottle mouths arranged sensor 42, e.g. CCD camera, shown, for example for ground control can be used.

The carousel 50 following the transport star 1 is used for Bottle side wall control and one if necessary Leak test. This carousel 50 has one continuously rotating bottle table with a drivable turntable arranged in a circular path (not shown) on the bottles to be examined with their Floor area and by means of a above the plate controlled, also rotatable Centering bell (not shown) clamped axially be held. To carry out a The centering bells can be checked for tightness with a Connection channel for generating and measuring a Differential pressure in the bottle interior. At the Orbit of carousel 50 is at least one Illumination and an image recording device 51 and 52 arranged. Appropriate equipped carousels for Sidewall and / or tightness control are from the Practice well known and therefore will not continue explained. In this regard, the patent is representative DE 34 07 386 C2 referenced. The carousel 50 in FIG. 1 is in executed accordingly.

The transport star 60 following the carousel 50 has the Task to close the bottles from the previous carousel 50 take over and optionally one of the three conveyors 61, 62, 63 feed. For this purpose are at the common Transfer point between the carousel 50 and the Transport star 60 and each on the with the conveyor common tangent points on the transport star 60 at its Orbit actuators for reversing the brackets. The not assigned to the discharge conveyor Actuators are selective depending on the Inspection result for every single bottle to open the corresponding parenthesis and releasing the one in it located bottle from an evaluation device controllable while the actuator between the Carousel 50 and the transport star 60, for example stationary, non-actuable cam or the like can be there at this point all clamps for taking over the bottles must be closed.

The infeed conveyor 14, the feed screw 35, the Transport stars 1 and 60, the carousel 50 and the Outfeed conveyors 61, 62, 63 are speed and continuously synchronized with each other drivable.

At least there is in the area of the worm 35 a control unit 36 for recognizing foreign bottles which, if they have been recognized as such without the help of Brackets of the transport star 1 to be grasped by Infeed conveyor 14 seen in the conveying direction behind the Transport star 1 lying chute 37 with one below standing waste container 38 are supplied. The Control unit 36 can e.g. to recognize the bottle height, shape, color, material composition, mouth quality or the like. For this Suitable sensors such as cameras or the like can be used be used. At the transfer point from the infeed conveyor 14 to the first carousel 1 can cleaning the Bottom bottoms by a blow device, not shown respectively.

The mechanical structure of the transport star 1 is shown below and 60 with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, with FIG. 3 being the Situation in the area of the worm 35 shows.

The transport star 1 has a base body 3, which in the essentially of two parallel, circular rings 16, 17 consists. The two rings 16, 17 have the same Outer diameter; the inner diameters are different, wherein the inner diameter of the upper ring 16 is smaller than the inner diameter of the lower ring 17. The two Rings 16, 17 are arranged concentrically and by one Number of pairs of bolts 18 distributed over their circumference with circular cross-section rigidly connected. Each bolt 18 can be released individually by means of two screws fixed between the two rings 16, 17.

The upper ring 16 has uniform on its inside the circumference distributes several holes on pins 19 to sit. These in turn are at the ends of several radial arms 20 attached to a hub 21 which rotatably with the drive shaft 15 is connected. By means of several on the upper ring 16 manual clamps 22 the base body 3 is releasably clamped on the arms 20 and with its central axis concentric with the drive shaft 15 aligned.

A gripping arm 4, 5 can be pivoted on each pin 18 stored. The two gripper arms 4, 5 of a pair of related bolts 18 are mirror images of the type of Double levers formed and together form a gripper or clip, which a bottle 2 non-positively and positively is able to grasp.

Each gripper arm 4, 5 has two sections a and b, which e.g. made of hard, high-strength plastic or metal and are therefore inherently rigid. The first one Parts 4a, 5a are designed as double levers, which in their lower and upper edge area to form a central recess can be pivoted directly onto the pin 18 are stored. At their radially outward facing ends are the first sections 4a, 5a with each other assigned, shell-like gripping surfaces 6 for the bottles 2 Mistake. The respective second sections 4b, 5b each Gripping arms 4, 5 are essentially simple levers trained in the middle of their height range in the Recess of the first sections 4a, 5a also directly are pivotally mounted on the pin 18. At their radial inward ends are the second sections 4b, 5b with mutually facing counter surfaces 7 for one Spreading body 8 provided. The counter surfaces 7 are on inserts 10 made of highly wear-resistant plastic, which detachable or replaceable by means of dovetail guides the sections 4b, 5b are attached.

Due to the bearings described above, the Sections 4a, b; 5a, b of each gripper arm 4, 5 both together as well as independently pivotable. The bolts 18 So both form pivot bearings 13 for the gripping arms 4, 5 as whole as well as joints 12 for the relative movement of the Sections 4a, b; 5a, b with each other. This relative movement is in one direction on the second sections 4b, 5b trained stops 23 limited.

Between the radially inward, essentially areas of the sections 4a, 4b; 5a, b are spring elements 9 in the form of elongated pillows elastic plastic, for example silicone, in appropriate recesses are used on the sections. The Spring elements 9 extend over the entire height of the Gripping arms 4, 5 and try the sections 4a, b; 5a, b apart as far as the stops 23 allow. The spring elements 9 are immediately behind the inserts 10 arranged with the counter surfaces 7 and allow a elastic relative movement between the sections 4a, b; 5a, b, the joints 12 functionally between the Counter surfaces 7 and the gripping surfaces 6 sit and concentric to the pivot bearings 13 of the gripping arms 4, 5 are arranged. Furthermore, there are two between the sections 4a, 5a associated gripper arms 4, 5 following the Gripping surfaces 6 V-shaped spring plates 24 clamped, which the gripping arms 4, 5 in the area of the gripping surfaces 6 try to push apart or the gripping arms 4, 5 in Preload opening sense.

Parallel to each pair of bolts 18 in the middle between the sections 4b, 5b of two gripping arms 4 belonging together, 5 is a control shaft 25 in the rings 16, 17 rotatably mounted. This points in the height range between the Rings 16, 17 a cam-shaped expansion body 8 with in essential oval cross-section, which by appropriate, partially parallel flattening of the control shaft 25 is formed directly. Is the expansion body 8 with his parallel side surfaces substantially radially to the axis of rotation of the transport star 1, it defines the opening position the gripping arms 4, 5, since in this case the counter surfaces 7 maximally approximated and the gripping surfaces 6 maximally apart are removed (Fig. 2, right side). Here are the Counter surfaces 7 under the influence of the spring plate 24 to the Side surfaces of the expansion body 8 and the bottles 2 can freely between the open gripper arms 4, 5 break in. The spring elements 9 transmit the from Spring plates 24 exerted on the sections 4a, 5a the sections 4b, 5b.

Is the expansion body 8 with its parallel side surfaces essentially tangential to the axis of rotation of the transport star 1, it defines the closed position of the gripping arms 4, 5, because in this case, the counter surfaces 7 maximally apart removed and the gripping surfaces 6 are maximally approximated (Fig. 2, left side). If there is no bottle 2, then they are Counter surfaces 7 only under the influence of the tensioned Spring plate 24 on the narrow end faces of the expansion body 8, with an elevation 11 on one of the two Counter surfaces 7 of the expansion body 8 slightly above Dead center is fixed and thus self-locking is stabilized. Also in this case, the force generated by the spring plate 24 transmitted through the spring elements 9, which may be easy be compressed. The distance between the gripping surfaces 6 is less than the smallest to process Bottle diameter.

Is in the closed position of the expansion body 8 or Gripping arms 4, 5 between these a bottle 2 available, so take the sections 4b, 5b with the counter surfaces 7 same location. The sections 4a, 5a are, however Area of the gripping surfaces 6 further apart, made possible by the joints 12. This has a stronger one Compression of the spring elements 9 result, so the required clamping force to hold the bottles securely 2 produce. The design is e.g. chosen such that the Gripping arms 4, 5 bottles 2 in the diameter range from 60 to 70 Can grasp millimeters firmly without this Spring elements 9 pressed together by more than a third become. This has an almost unlimited lifespan Spring elements 9 result. Even so, bottles can be 2 in a larger diameter range, e.g. up to 12 mm without Moving or replacing the transport star 1 is easy be transported. The compression of the Spring elements 9 built-up clamping force acts additionally stabilizing on the expansion body 8, which thus both in the open position as well as in the closed position stable is and does not require any additional holding means.

The lower end of each control shaft 25 protrudes somewhat from the lower ring 17 out. Are on these protruding ends angular control lever 26 attached. These contribute arranged stationary below the transport star 1 Stop bolts 27, 28 together. The first one that can be raised and lowered Stop pin 27 is on the inside of the orbit Control shafts 25 arranged and part of a controllable Actuator 29 (pneumatic cylinder). He pans in the upper, raised end position (Fig. 3) in End of the arrow with the transport star 1 Spreading body 8 by about 90 degrees from the open position in the Closed position. The second, near the bottle transfer point stop bolt 28 positioned to the carousel 50 is on the Arranged outside the orbit of the control shafts 25. He pivots a spreader 8 passing by about 90 degrees from the closed position to the open position. Through the Arrangement of other rigid or height-controlled Stop pin is at any point in the orbit the transport star 1 reliable opening and closing the gripper arms 4, 5 possible. The bottles 2 can without additional guide bends etc. from a feeder 14 transferred to the turntable 50 or from the turntable 50 hand over several different discharge conveyors 61, 62, 63 or sorted or with a similar transport star height-offset gripper arms are handed over.

It is also possible to have only one gripper arm with joint 12 and Equip spring element 9, the other gripper arm without Joint, i.e. rigid training and / or non-rotatable on Arrange base body and / or with a gear Coupling reversal of direction of rotation to the spring-loaded gripper arm. It is also conceivable for each gripper arm to have its own Assign spreading body.

The transport star 1a according to FIGS. 5 and 6 differs from the transport star 1 according to FIGS. 2 and 3 in that the double lever-like sections 4a, 5a of each gripper arm 4, 5 in a horizontal, perpendicular to the swivel axes of the Gripping arms 4, 5 running section plane E in the middle Height range are continuously separated. Each gripper arm 4, 5 thus has two double-lever-shaped sections 4a, 5a, which are pivotable relative to each other. The Single lever-shaped sections 4b, 5b, however, are not Cut.

The two respective sections 4a, 5a are supported by a spring element 9a on the associated one single section 4b, 5b. 6 shows each spring element 9a four elastic, cylindrical pillows on each other through a thin, flexible web are connected. Two elastic cushions work with each upper sections 4a, 5a together, while the two another elastic cushion with the lower section 4a, 5a work together. The two sections 4a, 5a of each gripper arm 4, 5 can thus separately the contour of a Adjust the gripped bottle 2 if the on the sections 4b, 5b attacking expansion body 8 its closed position occupies. The elastic pillow can Spring elements 9a are compressed in different ways, as Fig. 6 shows. In this way, so-called Contour or shape bottles with a cylindrical shape deviating surface reliably detected and fixed become.

If the inspection machine is to carry several types of bottles significantly different diameters can be processed, it may be necessary to use the transport stars 1 and 60 the change to a different bottle type. The diameter range that can be processed by the transport stars can also be enlarged if a Multi-position cam 8 is used, i.e. the spreading cam 8 can vary depending on the bottle diameter End positions for closing the brackets 4, 5 brought become. To fix the respective end position, the Inserts 10 in a manner not shown with several indentations assigned to individual bottle diameters for Snap the expansion cams 8 equipped.

Claims (10)

Inspection machine for testing bottles (2) or Like. With a star wheel (1) for passing the Bottles on an inspection device (40), the Star wheel on its periphery with holding members (4, 5) equipped to grasp the bottles, thereby characterized that the holding organs as on the trunk area the bottles (2) engaging clamps (4, 5) are. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottles (2) from the clamps (4, 5) bottom and / or be kept mouth-free. Machine according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized characterized that the brackets (4, 5) to different Bottle diameters are adjustable, especially adaptable automatically. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized characterized in that the brackets (4, 5) are elastic trained and / or via elastic elements (9) are operable. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized characterized in that the brackets (4, 5) from a Release position in an access position and vice versa are transferable, preferably independently of one another, in particular controlled depending on Inspection result. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized characterized that the machine at least two Carousels (1, 50), at least one of them as a star wheel (1) with brackets (4, 5) trained and viewed in the bottle flow direction is arranged first. Machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the bottles (2) coming into the machine directly to the Transport star wheel (1) fed and from this at least one inspection device (40) for Foreign matter detection, soil, residual liquid, Inner side wall, mouth side wall or Mouth sealing surface control must be carried out. Machine according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that that following the transport star wheel (1) Carousel (50) for side wall and / or Leakage control is set up. Machine according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the machine a transport star wheel (60) on the outlet side with on the fuselage of the bottles (2) engaging clamps (4, 5). Machine according to claim 9, characterized in that offset several on the circumference of the transport star wheel (60) Abförderer (61, 62, 63) are present, and the bottles (2) preferably depending on the inspection result can optionally be delivered to one of the conveyors.

Images